Wake Forest Demon Deacons at California Golden Bears

Injuries noted

Wake Forest Demon Deacons: Carlos Hernandez (probable) — WR #8 listed Probable on the ACC Update 2 report; Langston Hardy (probable) — DL #11 listed Probable on the ACC Update 2 report; Tyler Walton (out) — DL #14 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Devin Cook (out) — DB #15 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Elijah Otieno (out) — WR #20 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Joel Lowenberg (out) — LB #32 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Kadear Dembele (probable) — DL #55 listed Probable on the ACC Update 2 report; Dalton DeBoer (out) — OL #69 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Jack Hines (out) — OL #78 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report

California Golden Bears: Carter Vargas (out) — RB #1 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Kingston Lopa (probable) — DB #2 listed Probable on the ACC Update 2 report; Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (probable) — QB #3 listed Probable on the ACC Update 2 report; Marquis Groves-Killebrew (out) — DB #5 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Kyion Grayes (probable) — WR #6 listed Probable on the ACC Update 2 report; Cooper Perry (probable) — WR #10 listed Probable on the ACC Update 2 report; Carson Perry-Smith (questionable) — RB #21 listed Questionable on the ACC Update 2 report; Adam Mohammed (doubtful) — RB #24 listed Doubtful on the ACC Update 2 report; Kahlee Tafai (out) — OL #51 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Jimothy Lewis Jr. (doubtful) — OL #77 listed Doubtful on the ACC Update 2 report; Nate Burrell (out) — DL #98 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report

QUARTERBACK

• Gio Lopez is WAKE's projected starter

  9.14 Y/A

  Gio Lopez is WAKE's projected starting quarterback. The October 16 game-specific preview discusses Lopez as Wake Forest's quarterback and offensive focal point against Cal. A separate explicit game-day starting announcement was not verified; the projection is not inferred from passing totals. 2026 line: 1636 passing yards, 67.6% completions, 9.14 yards per attempt, 12-1 TD-INT over 6 games.

• Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is CAL's projected starter

  7.20 Y/A

  Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is CAL's projected starting quarterback. The October 16 game preview says he is likely to return as the starter against Wake Forest, barring a setback. Friday's designation was probable following a concussion; this is not a confirmed game-day starting announcement. 2026 line: 1180 passing yards, 65.2% completions, 7.20 yards per attempt, 8-5 TD-INT over 5 games.

TRENCHES

• WAKE: 94.8 rushing yards allowed per game to CAL's 174.7

  79.8 YPG

  Wake Forest allows 94.8 rushing yards a game over 6 games, a decent mark. Cal gives up 174.7 over the same 6-game span. The sheet doesn't list opponents, so it's unclear how much schedule shaped either number. Wake's ground game has the easier matchup here, which matters for a road team trying to control tempo.

PACE & SCRIPT

• WAKE: 36.8 points per game to CAL's 26.7

  10.2 PPG

  Wake Forest is scoring 36.8 points per game over 6 games, up from 28.1 last season, while Cal is at 26.7, close to its 25.3. Cal's number looks stable; Wake's jump is the one more likely to cool over a full season. Pair it with Wake's ground game and the road team has the offense more likely to control this matchup.

TURNOVERS

• WAKE: 0.5 turnovers committed per game to CAL's 1.33

  0.83 TO

  Wake has turned the ball over just 0.5 times a game through six, down from 1.62 last season, and turnover rates that low rarely last. Cal is close to last season's 1.23. Expect Wake to drift back toward the middle. Do not count on the turnover battle staying this lopsided in Berkeley.

MISMATCH

• WAKE: 144 rush yards a game to CAL's 92.8

  144 VS 92.8

  Wake Forest runs for 144 yards a game, while Cal manages 92.8, both over six games. These line up with last season, Wake at 156.2 and Cal at 81.7, so the gap looks stable. Cal has struggled to run for two years now. Wake's ground game on the road gives it a way to control the clock, while Cal has to win through the air.

REPLACEMENT

• Tyler Walton (DL) is out for WAKE

  OUT

  DL #14 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 23:00:00 ET) (2026-10-16)

• Devin Cook (DB) is out for WAKE

  OUT

  DB #15 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 23:00:00 ET) (2026-10-16)

• Elijah Otieno (WR) is out for WAKE

  OUT

  WR #20 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 23:00:00 ET) (2026-10-16)

• Joel Lowenberg (LB) is out for WAKE

  OUT

  LB #32 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 23:00:00 ET) (2026-10-16)

• Dalton DeBoer (OL) is out for WAKE

  OUT

  OL #69 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 23:00:00 ET) (2026-10-16)

• Jack Hines (OL) is out for WAKE

  OUT

  OL #78 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 23:00:00 ET) (2026-10-16)

• Carter Vargas (RB) is out for CAL

  OUT

  RB #1 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 23:00:00 ET) (2026-10-16)

• Marquis Groves-Killebrew (DB) is out for CAL

  OUT

  DB #5 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 23:00:00 ET) (2026-10-16)

• Kahlee Tafai (OL) is out for CAL

  OUT

  OL #51 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 23:00:00 ET) (2026-10-16)

• Nate Burrell (DL) is out for CAL

  OUT

  DL #98 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-16 23:00:00 ET) (2026-10-16)

TEAM RECORD

• WAKE is 3-0 on the road; CAL is 2-2 at home

  3-0

  Wake Forest has won all three road games, and Cal has split four at home. That is a road team that has handled travel and a home team that has been a coin flip on its own field. Three road games is a small sample, so the perfect mark is more likely to slip than hold. For this game, the usual home edge looks smaller than normal on the evidence so far.

• ACC game: WAKE 3-1, CAL 2-1 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the ACC. WAKE is 3-1 against it, CAL is 2-1. 2026 standings through 2026-10-17.